Flying-machine.



G. LEHBERGER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0e14, 1909 1 O@9 l5'? Patented NOV.21,1911.

3SHBETS-SHEET l.

G. LEHBERGER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0014,1909

Patented Nov. 21, 19M.

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APPLICATION FILED 0014,1909.

Patented Nov. 21

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 mamm l V IVTOR days 0% a. ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

GEORGE LEHBE'RGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed October 4, 1909. Serial No. 520,896.

chines, of whichthe following is a full,

clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains. to make, construct, and use the same.

My invention relates to flying machines, and particularly to that type of flying machine commonly called aeroplane, which are provided with extended surfaces, so that when driven at considerable speed, they will be buoyed or sustained by pressure of the" My invention has for an object, to so construct an'aeroplane that it will rise more easily from the ground, be sustained in the air at a less speed than has heretofore been possible, and be governed and operated more easily.

More particularly, my invention has for its object, to'construct a flying machine of this type comprising a skeleton frame, preferably of oblong form and made of a light frame of wood or light metal, and having a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of planes pivotally secured to the edge of the supporting plane and extending outwardly from each side of said frame, and provided with means whereby said planes may be simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions. A tail-piece is conveniently secured to the frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a vertical rudder and means for operating said rudder, are also provided. Attached to the upper front end of the frame of the apparatus, and preferably in line with the tail-piece, 1 provide another light and preferably a detachable frame, in which is mounted a front horizontal rudder having a flexible body. By means of tiller ropes, cables, or other well-known connections, the tail-piece, horizontal andwertical rudders, as well as the side planes ma be manipulated to direct the course of t e apparatus. In the car supported from the frame, a motor is conveniently located, to which are operatively connected front and rear propellers, and means are furnished for moving the front propellers in various directions.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a front end elevation of the same, in which the front horizontal rudder has been removed. Fig. 3 represents a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale, taken on lines az-m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale of my improved apparatus; and Figs. 5 and 6 representviews of the steering wheel with its attached parts.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawlngs. V

. In the drawings, a designates the carbody or frame preferably rectangular in shape,

made of suitable and light material, such as wood, or tubular steel, of skeleton structure,

adapted to present a minimum resistance surface to the air during the ascension and propulsion of the machine, the same comprising upper and lower frames 6 which are spaced apart and rigidly held in this relation by a series of vertical sustaining posts 0. Secured to the lower frame on a suitable platform d is a motor 2, the driving shaft 6 of which is provided with chain wheels f in alinement with the chain wheels f on the propeller operating shafts g, and over which drive chains'g' are adapted to be conducted. Any suitable motive power may be employed for driving the propeller operating shafts 9. These propeller operating shafts which operate the propellers h are located approximately at the corners of the frame, andextend outwardly at right-angles to and beyond the frame of the apparatus. surrounded by sleeves h which are mounted in suitable bearings h secured to the frame of the apparatus. To. the outer ends of the sleeves are secured the U-shaped brackets 2' within Which are mounted in suitable bearings the lateral propeller shafts j, to which are secured the propellers h each propeller being provided with a series or plurality of The propeller operating shafts g are curved planes or blades. These propellers give the car its forward propulsion.

Upon the lateral propeller shafts are secured bevel gears 75 which mesh with the bevel gears Z secured to the propeller operating shafts g. By means of this connection, the propellers may be revolved by rotating the propeller operating shafts. The pro peller operating shafts are rotated by means of any suitable motor located within the frame. of the apparatus and connected with the shafts. Upon the outer ends of the motor shaft (1 are shown chain wheels 7 which ca rry chainsg connecting them with chain wheels f mounted upon the-propeller operating shafts The sleeves 7L surrounding the front propeller operating shafts have chain wheels 'm or pulleys mounted thereon, connecting with a steering wheel shaft or other suitable means, by means of which,- the position of the front propellers may be controlled, If it is desired to pro gress forward, the front propellers would be adjusted in a vertical position. In rising from the ground, the propellers would be in an angular position tilted to the rear and upward. In descending, they would be in an angular position tilted to the front and downward.

Upon the upper portion of the frame of the apparatus, is attached a horizontally curved plane a preferably of oblong form, and made of a light frame of wood, or light metal and covered with canvas, silk or other suitable material. Hinged to the sides of the frame work of the curved plane a at n, and extending downwardly and outwardly from the said plane n, are a pair of similar planes 0, the inner edges of which are secured to the frame of the machine as at 013, thus providing means for collapsing the planes and laying them against the sides of the frame of the machine. The planes 0 are arranged as described, for the purpose of providing means whereby said planes 0, when the machine is not in actual use, can be disconnected from the frame of the machine-at if, and swung around the hinge n, so that the parts of the planes 0 located between the hinge n and the point n where they are secured to the frame of the machine, can be brought to lie against the under side of the plane n. By this operation, the extreme outer edges of the planes 0 are brought closer together, thereby enabling' the machine to be placed in a shed of comparatively small dimensions. These air planes 0 extend beyond the sides of the apparatus and are to be used for controlling the vertical position of the apparatus. By suitably arranged means to be hereinafter described, the marginal edges of the air planes on both sides of the apparatus may be simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, when it is desired to elevate the apparatus while in motion, or to make a curve. A vertical rear rudder 11, so supported as -to turn around a vertical axis, 1s pivoted to the rear end of the frame of the apparatus between the same and has means extending within the apparatus by which it is cont-rolled, thereby providing for the steering of the same.

Attached to the upper rear end of the frame of the apparatus, extending outwardly and rearwardly from the same, is another light frame (1 having secured thereon, a horizontal plane 9 called the tailpiece, having a flexible body of the same material as the planes heretoforedescribed, but differing in form. Attached to the upper front end of the frame of the apparatus, and preferably in line with the tail-piece. g is another light frame 9 in which is mounted a front horizontal rudder r having a flexible body.- The tail-piece g and horizontal rudder 7" form a part of the supporting system and serve to control the motion for the purpose of causing the ap paratus to rise or fall or to drive it horizontally. By means'of tiller ropes, cables, or other well-known connections, the horizontal and vertical rudders, as well as the side planes and front propellers may be turned or manipulated to direct the course of the ap aratus.

The di erent, planes, tail-piece, horizontal and vertical rudders are formed by stretching cloth, or other suitable fabric over a frame composed of a series of inner supporting r1bs or braces, preferably constructed of wood having the necessary strength combined with lightness and flexibility. This const ruction gives to them a surface which has very great strength to withstand lateral and longitudinal strains, at the same'time capable of being bent or twisted in the desired manner.

The horizontal rudder as will be seen, is pivotally secured in the frame extending from the forward end of the machine, and has rigidly secured to the short sides of its frame in any convenient manner, a lever r one arm of which extends above and the other arm of which extends below the plane of the rudder, and to which arms are secured cables, whereby the rudder may be adjusted to any desired angle and simultaneously flexed or bent, whereby the longitudinal edges near their extremities may be inclined downward and rearward and upward and forward, or .vice versa.

The frame of the car is provided with wheels 8 to normally sustain the apparatus. which wheels in practice, Will be equipped with suitable buffer springs to cushion the shock on alighting afterfiight, said butter springs, because they are common and form no part of this invention. not being shown.

Conveniently mounted upon the cross piece s and in front of the seat 8', is a bracket 8 to which is pivotally secured by means of the pivot pin 1 the bearing 8* for the reception of the steering wheel shaft 1?, to which is secured the steering wheel t. Rigidly secured to the wheelshaft t above and below the bearing 8, are the four armed spiders F, to which are secured the cables or ropes for manipulating the horizontal and vertical rudders, the side planes and the front propellers.

From an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the upper arms of the lever 1 which project above the horizontal rudder 1*, are by means of cables or ropes (which are indicated by dotted lines), connected to the side arms u of the upper spider t and that the lower arms of the lever 1' which project belo" the horizontal rudder r are by means 01. cables or ropes which cross each other at 1' connected to the side ,arms n. of the lower spider F. From the manner in which the upper and lower levers 1' of the horizontal rudder r are connected bymeans of the cables or ropes to the side arms u of the upper spider 6 it will be evident that when the steering wheel with its connected shaft and spiders is moved forward, or backward around the pivot pin '0, the angle of inclination of said horizontal rudder T will be changed, but if the wheel t with its attached arms and spiders is turned in either direction toward the right or left, as distinguished from being moved forward and backward, the cables connecting the levers r of the horizontal rudder with the arms of the spider, will cause the longitudinal edges of said rudder, near their extremities, to be flexed downward and rearward, and upward and forward, or vice versa. The vertical rudder 72 has secured to it a cable or rope passing over suitable pulleys conveniently arranged upon the frame of the machine, said cable or rope being secured to the rear arm uof the upper spider The chain wheels m secured to the sleeves h which surround the frontpropeller operating shafts, are provided with a short piece of chain, the upper ends of which are connected with cables or ropes, which are similarly connected to the side arms at of the upper spider t while the lower ends of the chain are connected with cables or ropes, which are crossed and secured to the side arms u of the lower spider in practically the same manner as the cables which connect the upper and lower arms of the lever r of the horizontal rudder r.

The front edges ofthe side planes near their extremities, are connected by means of the cable passing over a pulley mounted on the support a), said cable being secured to the front and u of the lower spider 25 It will thus be seen that when the steering started on the wheels of the car. erator after taking his position in the car Wheel is turned in either direction, the cable which passes over the pulley mounted upon thesupport 'v, and which is connected to the front edges of the side planes near their extremity, and which cable is also connected ,to the arms u of the spider t will flex the extreme outer edges of said side planes 0 in opposite directions to the same extent.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The apparatus will of. course be The opstarts the motor so as to rotate the propellers in the direct-ion indicated by the arrows, the propellers and the horizontal rudder being in the position as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen it is desired to rise, the steering wheel with its connected shaft and spiders, is

slightly moved forward around the pivot pin *0, thereby manipulating the above described connecting cables, and simultaneously changing the angle of the front propellers and the horizontal rudder, which will be preferably set at a considerable inclination tilted to the rear and upward. The angle will depend upon the condition of the wind and also upon the velocity of the machine.v The angle of the rear propellers is not changed as they are designed to always remain in a vertical position as shown. When it is desired to take a curve, the steering wheel is slightly turned in either direction, thereby manipulating the described connecting cables, thus simultaneously changing the position of the rear vertical rudder and flexing the edges of the side planes on both sides of the apparatus to the same extent in opposite directions, and also flexing the longitudinal edges of the front horizontal rudder near their extremities downward and rearward, and upward and forward, or vice versa.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown in dotted lines, a square opening in the side planes 0 nearest the frame of the machine. This opening is also shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and is adapted to perm-it the air to pass through said opening and out through the supporting plane 11..

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have produced an aerial apparatus possessing the features ofv advantage enumerated as desirable, and I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as "obvious modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame,'a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of planes extending outwardly from each side of said frame, and being partially overlapped by the supporting plane, a car supported from said frame, and connections controlled from said car, whereby the outer edges-of said pair of planes may be simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions.

2. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of planes extending outwardly from each side'of said frame and being partially overlapped by the supporting plane, means whereby the outer edges of said planes may be simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, a tail-piece extendingrearwardly from said frame, a vertical rudder, means for operating said rudder, a horizontal rudder extending forwardly from said frame, a car supported from said frame, a motor supported-in said car, propellers operatively connected to said motor and means for moving said propellers in various directions.

3. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of planes pivotally secured to the supporting plane and being partially overlapped by the supporting plane, a plane secured to the rear of said frame, a horizontal rudder pivotally secured to the front of said frame, a car supported from said frame and connections controlled from said car, whereby said front horizontal rudder and the outer. edges of the side planes may be flexed so as to present to the atmosphere different angles of incidence.

4. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a horizontally curved supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame,

a pair of similarly curved planes pivotally secured to the supporting plane, and partially overlapped .by said supporting plane, a ,car supported from said frame, and connections controlled from saidcar, whereby the marginal edges of said pair of planes may be simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions.

5. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of side planes extending outwardly from each side of said frame and being partially overlapped by the supporting plane, a plane extending rearwardly from said frame, a horizontal rudder extending forwardly from said frame, and lying substantially in the same plane with said rearwardly extending plane, a car supported from said frame, and connections controlled from said car, whereby said side planes and rudder may be flexed simultaneously in various directions.

6. In a flying machine, the combination with an aeroplane, of a pivotally arranged horizontal flexible rudder provided with arms extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom and means connecting said arms for flexing the longitudinal edges of said rudder by moving said arms in opposite directions.

7. In a flying machine, the combination with an aeroplane, of a hor zontal flexible rudder pivotally secured to. the front of the machine, and means secured to the transverse edges of said rudder and connected with means located within the machine for flexing the longitudinal edges of said rudder by moving said means secured to the transverse edges of said rudder in opposite directions.

8-. In a flying machine, the combination with an aeroplane, of a horizontal flexible rudder centrally and pivotally secured to the front of the machine, and provided with upwardly and downwardly extending arms and means located within the machine and connectin said arms for flexing the longitudinal e ges of said rudder by moving said arms in opposite directions.

9. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a 'pair of planes extending outwardly from each side of said frame, a vertical rudder pivotally secured to the rear of said frame, a horizontal rudder extending forwardly from said frame, and means located within said frame for simultaneously changing'the position of the vertical rudder and flexing the marginal edges of the side planes 011 both sides'of the machine to the same extent in opposite directions and also flexing the longitudinal edges of the horizontal rudder near their extremities downward and rearward and upward and forward.

10. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, of a pair of planes extending outwardly from each side of said frame, a vertical rudder pivotally secured to the rear of said frame, a horizontal rudder extending forwardly from said frame. propellers secured to the sides of said frame, and steering means pivotallylocated within said frame, the forward movement of which will simultaneously change the angular position of the propellers, and of the vertical and horizontal rudders and simultaneously flex the edges of the side planes on both sides of the machine to the same extent in oppoite directions and the longitudinal edges of the horizontal rudder near their extremities.

11. In a flying machine, the combination wit-h a frame, two horizontally curved planes extending outwardly from and pivotally secured-to said frame, the outer portions of which are capable of being simultaneously flexed to the same extent in opposite directions. means located within the frame for simultaneously flexing said outer portions and a supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame, said plane overlapping the said two horizontally curved planes.

12. In a flying machine, the combination with an aeroplane, of a horizontal rudderpivotally secured at its ends in a frame to the front of the machine, and means for flexing the longitudinal edges of said rudder by moving said means in opposite directions.

13. In a flying machine, the combination with a frame, two horizontally curved planes extending outwardly from and pivotally secured'to said frame, the outer portions of which are capable of being flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, a horizontal rudder pivotally secured in a frame to the front of the machine and means located within the frame for simultaneously flexing the outer portions of the curved planes and flexing the longitudinal edges of the horizontal rudder near their extremities downward and rearward and upward and forward.

14. In a flying machine, the combination with aframe, two horizontally curved planes extending outwardly from and pivotally secured at their inner portions to said frame, the outer portions of which are capable of being flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, means located within the frame for simultaneously flexing said outer portions and a supporting plane mounted on. the top of said frame, said plane overlapping the said two horizontally curved planes. I

15. In a. flying machine, the combination with a frame, two horizontally curved planes extending outwardly from and pivotally secured at their inner portions to said frame, the outer. portions of which are capable of being flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, a horizontal flexible rudder pivotally secured in a frame to the front of the machine-and means located within the frame for simultaneously twisting the outer portions of the curved planes and flexing the longitudinal edges of the horizontal rudder near their extremities downward and rearward and upward and forward.

16. In a flying machine, the combination witha frame, two horizontally curved planes extending outwardly from and piyotally secured at their inner portions to said frame, the outer portions of which are capable -of being flexed to the same extent in opposite directions, a horizontally curved supporting plane mounted on the top of said frame and partially overlapping said planes and means located within the frame for simultaneously flexing the outer portions of the curved planes extending from sa1d frame. I

This specificatlon signed and witnessed this 1st day of October 1909.

GEORGE LEHBERGER.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FISCHER, O. -A. ALLIs'roN. 

